DeVonta Smith ( ; born November 14, 1998) is an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...
wide receiver for the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...
of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL). He played
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
at
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
, where he recorded over 1,800 yards with 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2020.
Smith was awarded the
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...
for his accomplishments alongside several other awards and honors. He was the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since
Desmond Howard
Desmond Kevin Howard (born May 15, 1970) is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at Michigan, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior. Howard w ...
in 1991 and only the fourth overall. He also won two
national championships
A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, indi ...
while at Alabama prior to being selected by the Eagles tenth overall in the
2021 NFL Draft
The 2021 NFL Draft was the 86th National Football League Draft, the annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland from April 29 to May 1, 2021 ...
.
High school career
Smith attended
Amite High Magnet School
Amite High Magnet School is a public high school in Amite City, Louisiana, United States. It is governed by the Tangipahoa Parish School Board.
Haynesville Senior High athletics competes in the LHSAA.
Athletics
Amite High athletics competes in ...
in his hometown of
Amite City, Louisiana
Amite City ( or ; commonly just Amite) is a town in Tangipahoa Parish, of which it is the parish seat, in southeastern Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,141 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical A ...
. He played basketball and football. He committed to the
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...
to play college football.
College career
2017 season
As a true freshman at Alabama in 2017, Smith had eight receptions for 160 yards and three
touchdowns
A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Whether Rush (gridiron football), running, Forward pass, passing, returning a Kickoff (gridiron football), kickoff or Punt (gridiron football), punt, or recovering a Turno ...
. In the
2018 College Football Playoff National Championship
The 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship was a college football bowl game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the 2017 season. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Georgia B ...
against
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, Smith's only catch of the game was the game-winning touchdown reception in an overtime 26–23 victory.
2018 season
As a sophomore in 2018, he had 42 receptions for 693 yards and six touchdowns.
2019 season
![DeVonta Smith](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/DeVonta_Smith.jpg)
Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns on 68 receptions. On September 28, Smith set career highs with 274 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 59–31 victory against
Ole Miss.
After the season, his teammates
Henry Ruggs
Henry James Ruggs III (born January 24, 1999) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at University of Alabama, Alabama, where he was a member of the team that won the 2018 College Football Play ...
and
Jerry Jeudy
Jerry Davarus Jeudy (born April 24, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's ...
forfeited their remaining NCAA eligibility to enter the
2020 NFL Draft
The 2020 NFL Draft was the 85th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2020 NFL season. The first round was held on April 23, followed by the second and third rounds on April 24. The d ...
, where they ended up as first-round picks, but Smith decided to return to Alabama for his senior year.
2020 season
On November 21, 2020, Smith broke the all-time SEC career record for most receiving touchdowns, with two against Kentucky.
Smith became the first wide receiver to win the
AP Player of the Year award since its inception in 1998. Smith was selected over finalists
Kyle Trask
Kyle Jacob Trask (born March 6, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 20 ...
,
Trevor Lawrence
William Trevor Lawrence (born October 6, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Considered among the highest-touted college football prospects, he won the 2019 National C ...
and teammate
Mac Jones
Michael McCorkle "Mac" Jones (born September 5, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at University of Alabama, Alabama, where he set the Nationa ...
to win the
2020 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver to win the award since
Desmond Howard
Desmond Kevin Howard (born May 15, 1970) is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at Michigan, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior. Howard w ...
in 1991 and only the fourth overall.
Several days later in the
CFP National Championship Game
The College Football Playoff National Championship is a post-season college football bowl game, used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), which began play in the 2014 college football season. ...
against Ohio State, Smith set records for title game catches (12) and touchdown receptions (three), and also totaled 215 yards, despite leaving early in the third quarter with a hand injury. Alabama won, 52–24, their sixth title in 12 years, while Smith was named
Offensive MVP of the championship game.
While playing for Alabama, Smith set more than seven
school receiving records. Smith accepted an invitation for the
2021 Senior Bowl but did not play. His nickname at Alabama was the "Slim Reaper", given to him by his teammates due to his small frame and athletic ability.
Professional career
![DeVonta Smith 2022 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/DeVonta_Smith_2022_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Smith was selected by the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...
with the tenth overall selection in the
2021 NFL Draft
The 2021 NFL Draft was the 86th National Football League Draft, the annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland from April 29 to May 1, 2021 ...
, who had traded up two spots with the
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...
to select him. He was the third wide receiver taken in the draft after
Ja'Marr Chase
Ja'Marr Anthony Chase (born March 1, 2000) is an American football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, where he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award and the 2020 College F ...
and
Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle (born November 25, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted sixth overall by the Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draf ...
. Despite his impressive college statistics Smith fell in the draft due to concerns over his raw measurables and that his frame was considered too small to handle playing in the NFL.
He signed a four-year rookie contract, worth $20.1 million, on June 3, 2021.
2021
In week 1, against the
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons joined th ...
, Smith scored his first career touchdown on his very first catch in the NFL. Smith had a solid rookie season for the Eagles, as he recorded 64 receptions for 916 yards and 5 touchdowns. His 916 yards set the Eagles rookie record for most receiving yards in a single season. Like the rest of the Eagles offense, Smith struggled during the team's 31–15 loss in the Wild Card round to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he ended the game with 4 catches (on 11 targets) for 60 yards.
2022
![Devonta Smith 2022 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/DeVonta_Smith_2022_%28cropped%29.jpg)
In Week 3, against the
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) E ...
, Smith had eight catches for a career-high 169 yards and a touchdown in the 24-8 win.
NFL career statistics
Playoffs
See also
*
List of NCAA major college football yearly receiving leaders
The list of college football yearly receiving leaders identifies the major college receiving leaders for each season from 1937 to the present. It includes yearly leaders in three statistical categories: (1) receptions, (2) receiving yardage; (3) y ...
*
References
External links
*
Philadelphia Eagles profileAlabama Crimson Tide profile*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, DeVonta
1998 births
Living people
African-American players of American football
Alabama Crimson Tide football players
All-American college football players
American football wide receivers
Heisman Trophy winners
Maxwell Award winners
People from Amite City, Louisiana
Philadelphia Eagles players
Players of American football from Louisiana